Best Sewing Machines for Quilting and Embroidery: Combo Machines That Do Both

Our verdict

Top Picks

A sewing and embroidery combo machine pieces and quilts like a sewing machine, then takes an embroidery unit and hoop to stitch designs. This guide compares eight combo machines on Amazon, from affordable 4 x 4 inch models to fields over 10 inches long, each with its embroidery unit in the box or built in. For embroidery-only machines, see our embroidery machines hub.

Price tier legend: $ = entry level, $$ = mid-range, $$$ = premium, relative to the machines in this guide.

Compare the picks

Compare the combo machines

Each row is the exact machine the review links, without bundles. The field is the largest design per hooping.

The b59’s 4.7 x 11.8 inch field uses its included Multi-Position Hoop (4.7 x 7 inches in one position). Janome figures for space right of the needle come from Janome Australia; the MC9850 figure is for the standard MC9850.

How These Combo Machines Were Chosen

What decided the picks

• Does both: sews and embroiders, with the embroidery unit included or built in, per the listing or maker.
• Embroidery field and hoops: the largest design per hooping and the hoops in the box.
• Room for quilts: space right of the needle, feed for layers (Dual Feed, AcuFeed Flex) and a knee lifter.
• Designs and transfer: built-in designs, wireless or USB transfer, and stated file formats.
• Availability: new and in stock on Amazon, with the seller named where it is not Amazon.

Where the facts come from and what quilters and embroiderers on Reddit say

Where the facts come from

Specs come from Brother, bernette, Janome Australia’s product pages (janome.com would not load for us) and the Amazon listings we link. We found no independent test of these eight machines, so the evidence is owner reports: a blogger who owns the SE2000 and owners on Reddit, each about one person’s machine. Two Skyline S9 blog reviews were written on machines Janome sent or offered, so they are not used. The b59 and MC1000 rest on maker specs.

What quilters and embroiderers on Reddit say

In the r/quilting thread “Best machine for sewing/quilt/embroidery?”, which ranks for this search, a reader asks whether the Brother SE700 can make quilts. One reply: “Will you be able to make a quilt with it? Yes”, but “bigger than a twin size? Iffy” unless you quilt in sections. Another says “machines that do all the things don’t do any of them really well”, and several owners piece on a separate straight-stitch machine. In a later r/quilting thread on combos, the top-voted reply is “Buy the machine with the biggest hoop you can afford.”

Detailed Reviews

Brother SE2000, Best Overall

Evidence: No independent test; owner reports. Silhouette School (owner blog): SE2000.

The SE2000 pairs 241 sewing stitches with 193 built-in designs, plus 50 free downloads, and a 5 x 7 inch hoop. Brother lists a knee lifter and 7-point feed dogs but no workspace figure. Designs arrive by wireless LAN or USB, and the listing adds jump-stitch trimming. The Silhouette School blogger, who moved up from an SE600, says “it’s still the machine I recommend most often to beginners” and calls the 5 x 7 hoop “the perfect starter size”. On r/Machine_Embroidery, one owner has “been loving it so far” but goes through needles faster than on a sewing-only machine.

Specs (linked: SE2000, machine only)

• Embroidery field: 5 x 7 in; hoop included: 5 x 7 in (Brother)
• Designs and stitches: 193, plus 50 free downloads; 13 embroidery fonts; 241, with 10 one-step buttonholes
• Max sewing speed: 850 stitches per minute (Brother)
• Space right of the needle: not published
• Design transfer: wireless LAN and USB; file formats not stated on Brother’s SE2000 page
• Knee lifter: yes (Brother)

Brother SE700, Best for Beginners

Evidence: No independent test; owner reports. r/Machine_Embroidery, SE700 owner: SE700.

The SE700 has 103 sewing stitches and 135 built-in designs, and the listing includes the 4 x 4 inch hoop, the embroidery arm and 8 sewing feet. Brother gives a 6.4 x 4.0 inch work area and no knee lifter, and its support page says the machine reads “.pes, .phc, and .dst” files by wireless LAN or USB. In the r/quilting thread above, quilts were a yes, but “Iffy” above twin size. On r/Machine_Embroidery, one owner writes “I got the Brother SE700 and I love it” and is “happy with the 4” x 4” for learning”, while another SE700 owner “QUICKLY developed hoop envy” within a month.

Specs (linked: SE700, machine only)

• Embroidery field: 4 x 4 in; hoop included: 4 x 4 in (listing)
• Designs and stitches: 135; 10 embroidery fonts; 103, with 10 one-step buttonholes
• Max sewing speed: 710 stitches per minute (Brother)
• Space right of the needle: 6.4 x 4.0 in work area (Brother)
• Design transfer: wireless LAN and USB; reads .pes, .phc and .dst (Brother support)
• Knee lifter: no (Brother)

bernette b79, Best for Quilting

Evidence: No independent test; owner reports. r/sewing, b79 owner: b79.

The b79 gives 230 mm (9 inches) right of the needle, and bernette says its integrated Dual Feed “moves all layers of fabric evenly” and is “Ideal for quilt sandwiches!” The embroidery module has three hoops and a 260 x 160 mm (10.2 x 6.3 inch) field. bernette lists 208 designs, 500 stitches (35 for quilting), a knee lifter and USB import, and calls it “compatible with most embroidery design formats”. An r/sewing owner who bought one second-hand says “I have sewn and embroidered things and it does both very well.” It was sold by a third-party seller (Osewpersonal) when checked on 4 November 2026; the live box above shows the current seller and stock.

Specs (linked: b79)

• Embroidery field: 260 x 160 mm (10.2 x 6.3 in); hoops included: 3 (bernette)
• Designs and stitches: 208; 7 embroidery alphabets; 500, including 35 quilting stitches
• Max sewing speed: 1,000 stitches per minute (bernette)
• Space right of the needle: 230 mm / 9 in (bernette)
• Design transfer: USB; native EXP format (bernette)
• Feed and lift: integrated Dual Feed, knee lifter (bernette)

Janome Skyline S9, Best Premium

Evidence: No independent test; owner reports. r/quilting, S9 owner: Skyline S9.

The S9’s listing names the embroidery unit in the box, three hoops (3.9 x 1.6, 5.5 x 5.5 and 6.7 x 7.9 inches), 250 designs and 300 stitches. Its AcuFeed Flex system has “Changeable feet included for all of your quilting and difficult fabric sewing needs”, plus a knee lifter and automatic presser-foot lift. Janome Australia lists 210 mm (8.3 inches) of work space and a USB port; designs also travel by Janome’s wireless apps. An r/quilting owner who chose it over the sewing-only S6 says “it was worth the extra price for me to have another embroidery machine with the ability to do 5” x 7” but small enough for travel to classes.” It was sold by a third-party seller (Osewpersonal) when checked on 4 November 2026; the live box above shows the current seller and stock.

Specs (linked: Skyline S9)

• Embroidery field: 6.7 x 7.9 in; hoops included: 3.9 x 1.6, 5.5 x 5.5 and 6.7 x 7.9 in (listing)
• Designs and stitches: 250; 10 monogram fonts; 300 stitches
• Max sewing speed: 1,000 stitches per minute (listing)
• Space right of the needle: 210 mm / 8.3 in (Janome Australia)
• Design transfer: wireless apps and USB; file formats not stated in the listing
• Feed and lift: AcuFeed Flex, knee lifter, automatic presser-foot lift (listing)

Brother NQ3550W, Largest Field of the Brother Picks

Evidence: No independent test; owner reports. r/Machine_Embroidery, NQ3550W owner: NQ3550W.

The listing includes an “Embroidery Frame Set (extra-large) (6” x 10”)” and a knee lift, and gives a “needle to arm 8.3″ x 4.1″” workspace. Brother lists 258 designs and 291 stitches. The Automatic Height Adjuster “helps to ensure steady stitch length on all fabric thicknesses”, per the listing, and designs arrive wirelessly. An r/Machine_Embroidery owner who outgrew an SE700 and weighed this against the SE2000 wrote “I got the NQ3550W! And I don’t regret it lol”. A reply in another thread puts it plainly: against the SE2000, “The size difference is most of the price difference.” It was sold by a third-party seller (Sewing Parts Online) when checked on 4 November 2026; the live box above shows the current seller and stock.

Specs (linked: NQ3550W)

• Embroidery field: 6 x 10 in; frame included: 6 x 10 in (listing)
• Designs and stitches: 258, plus 140 frame pattern combinations; 13 lettering fonts; 291, with 10 one-step buttonholes
• Max sewing speed: 850 stitches per minute (listing)
• Space right of the needle: 8.3 x 4.1 in needle to arm (listing)
• Design transfer: wireless (Design Database Transfer); file formats not stated on Brother’s page
• Feed and lift: Automatic Height Adjuster, knee lift included (listing)

Janome MC9850 Limited Edition, Best Mid-Range Large Hoop

Evidence: No independent test; owner reports. r/Machine_Embroidery, MC9850 owner: MC9850, edition not stated.

The Limited Edition listing gives 173 designs, 200 stitches, a 6.7 x 7.9 inch field and USB transfer, and says “Two hoops come standard”: the SQ14a and the RE20a. Janome Australia’s page for the standard MC9850 adds a removable embroidery unit, 210 mm (8.3 inches) of work space and a 7-level foot pressure dial. Owners disagree. An r/Machine_Embroidery owner writes “I have the Janome MC9850. I love it. It really does have a nice embroidery stitch,” while a PatternReview member writes “I would steer clear of the 9850 It has given me nothing but trouble” (a twisting bobbin case, and struggles over seams thicker than two cotton layers). Neither names the edition. A reply in that r/Machine_Embroidery thread says the MC9850 “only comes with a 5.5” square hoop”, so we link the Limited Edition, whose listing states two. It was sold by a third-party seller (World Weidner), shipped by Amazon, when checked on 4 November 2026; the live box above shows the current seller and stock.

Specs (linked: MC9850 Limited Edition)

• Embroidery field: 6.7 x 7.9 in; hoops included: SQ14a and RE20a (listing)
• Designs and stitches: 173; 2 fonts; 200 stitches
• Max sewing speed: 1,000 stitches per minute (Janome Australia, standard MC9850)
• Space right of the needle: 210 mm / 8.3 in (Janome Australia, standard MC9850)
• Design transfer: USB; file formats not stated in the listing
• Feed and lift: 7-level foot pressure dial (Janome Australia)

bernette b59, Best for Long Designs

Evidence: No independent test; maker specs. Source: bernette.

bernette lists a 120 x 180 mm (4.7 x 7 inch) field and an included Multi-Position Hoop that extends it to 120 x 300 mm (4.7 x 11.8 inches) for lettering and borders. It counts 268 designs and 515 stitches, gives 170 mm right of the needle and 800 stitches per minute, sends designs from the StitchDirect app over WiFi, and reads “EXP, PES, DST, PEC, PCS, SEW, JEF, VP3, VIP und HUS” files. We found no owner report or test of this new model. Thimble Book’s overview, which is not a test, says “The #1 downside to this machine is its maximum speed.” It was sold by a third-party seller (Osewpersonal) when checked on 4 November 2026; the live box above shows the current seller and stock.

Specs (linked: b59)

• Embroidery field: 4.7 x 7 in, 4.7 x 11.8 in with the Multi-Position Hoop; hoops included: 2 (bernette)
• Designs and stitches: 268, including 11 fonts; 515, including 3 fonts
• Max sewing speed: 800 stitches per minute (bernette)
• Space right of the needle: 170 mm / 6.7 in (bernette)
• Design transfer: WiFi with the StitchDirect app; reads EXP, PES, DST, PEC, PCS, SEW, JEF, VP3, VIP and HUS (bernette)

Janome MC1000, Built-In Embroidery Arm

Evidence: No independent test; maker specs. Source: Janome Australia and the listing.

The MC1000’s embroidery arm swings out from the back, and the listing says “The embroidery unit is fully incorporated with your machine for easy carrying, travel and storage.” It includes the SQ14e 5.5 x 5.5 inch hoop, 241 designs and 300 stitches. Janome Australia lists 180 mm (7 inches) of work space, a 6-level foot pressure dial, a USB port and the knee lift as an option. We found no owner report or test. Thimble Book’s overview, not a test, says it “is not designed for those who want to quilt large quilt tops or embroider extra large garments”. It was sold by a third-party seller (Osewpersonal), shipped by Amazon, when checked on 4 November 2026; the live box above shows the current seller and stock.

Specs (linked: Memory Craft 1000)

• Embroidery field: 5.5 x 5.5 in; hoop included: SQ14e 5.5 x 5.5 in (listing)
• Designs and stitches: 241 designs; 300, with 12 one-step buttonholes
• Max sewing speed: 860 stitches per minute (Janome Australia)
• Space right of the needle: 180 mm / 7 in (Janome Australia)
• Design transfer: USB; file formats not stated in the listing
• Feed and lift: 6-level foot pressure dial; knee lift optional (Janome Australia)

What to Check on a Quilting and Embroidery Combo

Embroidery field and the hoops in the box

The SE700, SE2000 and MC1000 each list one hoop, the NQ3550W a 6 x 10 inch frame set, the MC9850 Limited Edition and b59 two hoops, and the b79 and S9 three. The top-voted reply in the r/quilting combo thread says to buy “the biggest hoop you can afford”, and an r/MachineEmbroidery thread says the same. For more machines by field size, see our guide to embroidery machines for large designs.

Picks: bernette b79, Brother NQ3550W, bernette b59

Room right of the needle

A rolled quilt has to fit right of the needle. Of the seven picks with a published figure, the b79 has the most (9 inches); the NQ3550W, S9 and standard MC9850 list 8.3; the SE700 lists 6.4. For sewing-only machines built for big quilts, see our quilting machines hub.

Picks: bernette b79, Janome Skyline S9

Feed for quilt layers

Of the sources we read, two picks list a dual feed for layers: the b79’s Dual Feed and the S9’s AcuFeed Flex. Both list a knee lifter, as do the SE2000 and NQ3550W. On the other picks, ask the maker which walking foot fits.

Design transfer and file formats

Every pick takes designs by USB, wireless or both. Formats matter when you buy designs: Brother lists .pes, .phc and .dst for the SE700, and bernette lists ten for the b59 and calls the b79 “compatible with most embroidery design formats”. For the rest, check the maker’s manual before buying designs.

One needle, one job at a time

On needle count, all eight are single-needle home machines, so you cannot piece while a design stitches out. One owner in the r/MachineEmbroidery thread above, who runs a multi-needle machine, warns anyone planning a side business: “do not start with a single needle.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes: every machine here sews and embroiders, with the embroidery unit included. Check listings, though: Singer’s Smart HD 9120 sells its embroidery attachment separately.

A combo machine pieces and quilts on its sewing side and embroiders quilt blocks in the hoop; an embroidery-only machine has no sewing side. For quilts above twin size, one reply in the r/quilting thread suggests quilting in sections. For embroidery-only options, see our embroidery machines for quilting guide.

No. Quilting stitches the top, batting and backing together; machine embroidery stitches a programmed design held in a hoop. A combo machine does both, one at a time.

The Brother SE700 is the entry-level pick, with a 4 x 4 inch field. If you expect larger designs, the Brother SE2000 has a 5 x 7 inch hoop and a knee lifter.

In a later r/quilting thread, the person asking wanted one machine to save space, while several owners who replied piece on a separate straight-stitch machine. For the two-machine route, see our sewing machines hub and our Janome quilting machine guide.

The bottom line

Final Verdict

Start with the Brother SE2000 (check price) for a 5 x 7 inch hoop and a knee lifter, or the Brother SE700 (check price) on a budget. Quilters should look first at the bernette b79 (check price) (Dual Feed, 9 inches right of the needle) and the premium Janome Skyline S9 (check price) (AcuFeed Flex, three hoops). The Brother NQ3550W (check price) gives Brother users a 6 x 10 inch field, the Janome MC9850 Limited Edition (check price) a mid-range large hoop with split owner reports, the bernette b59 (check price) borders up to 11.8 inches, and the Janome MC1000 (check price) a built-in embroidery arm.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.